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Some people don't like updates after release...?

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Some people don't like updates after release...?

from Stardock Forums
I was reading something interesting on another forum. In essence, they conclude without having played Galactic Civilizations that it was released unfinished and buggy.

Their proof? Because we keep releasing updates for it.

This does indeed create an interesting marketing issue. I would assert that GalCiv 1.0, out of the box, was very solid.

It is unfortunate that there is so much cynicism these days that some people don't see free updates for what they are. Heck, did the BonusPak even come with any "bug fixes"? Or does anyone think that the MP3 play list editor built into the BonusPak was something that should have been put into the retail box?

I think anyone reading this thread probably feels as I do, that the updates are something that are not just good for GalCiv but something they'd like to see become a wider trend.

Free updates after release that add real features and tweak the game based on player feedback not only are good for customers but they discourage piracy and in the long run increase sales since users are more apt to purchase a game even if there's no return policy if it becomes a standard business practice to keep enhancing the game after release.

Hopefully those of you reading this, if you ever encounter someone claiming that GalCiv or any game that is releasing value-add updates after release were, in truth, released as "buggy" or "unfinished" will know the truth and help keep such erroneous misconceptions from going forward.

You can imagine how our publisher, Strategy First or future publishers would feel if they believed that the release of significant amounts of updates after release gave the general population the perception that the only reason there are all these updates is to fix a "buggy" or "unfinished" game.
3,954 views 90 replies
Reply #76 from Stardock Forums Top
Bobo not say play word games. Bobo say call what IS. Patch fix things. Bonus pack add things to make better. Bobo cant help stupid people who dont know difference. Bobo say can only help people who want to know difference.
Reply #77 from Stardock Forums Top
Just as a comment about Object Desktop.

I am almost certain sure I seen the program packaged and on the shelf in Canada. I have not seen Galactic Civilizations on a store shelf. I am also certain time after time I heard that Stardock's bread winner is Object Desktop.
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #78 from Stardock Forums Top
Bobo think also that Object Desktop is Stardock star. Sound not easy to believe, but Bobo know more people use computers for silly thing like work and internet. Less people use for play games. Bobo say not make sense. Bobo not know about store in Canada. That different country.
Reply #79 from Stardock Forums Top
I think it's safe to say that Object Desktop represents the vast majority of Stardock's revenue/net.

We think that Object Desktop's success is due to fast response times in hearing a suggestion and delivering it in an update. So we're trying this out on GalCiv.

The thing that is different about the games industry or at least the PC game industry is that so many games come out nearly unplayable due to bugs. So quick updates come up for them but not to add features but to essentially finish the game. And so to an outsider, all these updates create, for some people, a sense that maybe GalCiv was released unfinished which in turn maeks publishers and distributors nervous.

Probably after the stand alone update to 1.03 we'll slow things down a bit and focus on the summer expansion pack.
Reply #80 from Stardock Forums Top
I think this kind of customer support and desire to improve upon a game concept is the only thing left that really separates the PC gaming arena from the console arena. It is this very aspect that has continued to draw me to the PC in recent years. In many ways, gaming is starting to go back to its roots on the PC, with dedicated individuals and small groups producing the kind of games that gamers wish to play, rather than games produced by committee for the mass market. We need to preach the advantages of this philosophy to the unwashed masses, though we'll never get through to everyone.

One thing that the Internet has taught us is this - if there's an opinion that could exist somewhere along the spectrum of possibilities, someone will hold it... and voice it. I'm quite sure that someone out there thinks Galactic Civilizations is the worst game they've ever played, but fortunately we ignore such vitiate opinion. ;)

~SDC~
Reply #81 from Stardock Forums Top
Incidentally, I forgot to add this. While I fully support the GalCiv update model, I do have difficulties with it myself. Stardock is a great piece of software, but it would be nice if updates were also offered as separate downloadable .zip files. This would make it much easier for those of us who play GalCiv on a computer that's not connected to the Internet.

~SDC~
Reply #82 from Stardock Forums Top
Perhaps you could add a little note to all the places we can get the updates from, Brad, and say that each update incorporates NEW FEATURES as well as squashing various bugs?
Not sure if that would help much, but it might disperse some of the people worried it's a "buggy game". :)

~SDC~
Reply #83 from Stardock Forums Top
Yeah, second, it's a completely different model for how a game is put out.

What makes the difference? The Devs make a good point of listening, at least seem that they are. Players feel that they're interested in making a game as best as possible, letting it develop naturally.

This is different. I like this.



~SDC~
Reply #84 from Stardock Forums Top
Brad, you should know from your long online experience with flamewars that cynicism, stupidiy and malice are unevenly distributed in the population, lol.

The vast majority of your reviews and all of us happy customers are an overwhelming counterbalance to the cynicism, stupidiy and malice some will exhibit.

Reply #85 from Stardock Forums Top
@ KrazyKrok

Right click on the file you want in StarDock & hit Download & Archive. It puts it in a temp file in SDC's directory.

~SDC~
Reply #86 from Stardock Forums Top
Two things led me to buy this game:
1) M003 was not fun, and I became very disillusioned with my 2nd favorite game/series in the universe (MOM is #1). Some of the MOO3 boards, Orion Sector, were discussing GalCiv.

2) This forum and all of the updates that were coming out, along with the basic gameplay focus on strategy and single-player.

Keep up the updates.

Speaking of which, the latest version keeps crashing when the first Senate votes comes up. Please fix that or else I won't be able to play at all! (:(

We live for the one, we die for the one.
Reply #88 from Stardock Forums Top
Gotta get my 2 cents in, too :p . It IS a great game, and bugs or not, it plays right out of the box on my computer. Can't tell that 1.03 made it any better, but it was already good. People who complain about bugs and updates have no idea what goes into making a game and until they learn, I would suggest a lot more patience and a zipped lip. And by the way, I apply that to the complainers at MOO3, too. So there! ;)
Reply #89 from Stardock Forums Top
Well, Brad, there is likely a somewhat reasonable (if one is too lazy to truly investigate before running off at the mouth) excuse for this behavior. The vast majority of games that have numerous updates within a relatively short period of time are generally rather flawed and buggy at their release. Clearly, tho, if one looks into this situation rather than form quick (and in this case, unwarrented) conclusions, GalCiv was very solid upon release, and very enjoyable.

Unfortunately, ethics is not a universially practiced characteristic of humans. Sadly, it tends to go the other route.

Elf
Reply #90 from Stardock Forums Top
If Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, EMC, and every other technology company out there has to release patches, updates, or bugfixes that how can anyone expect a much smaller company charging much, much less money to have a game perfect right out of the gate?

~SDC~